Udom’s new cabinet, much expectations: Can they deliver?

BY NDIFREKE AKPAN

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State last month has proven wrong the belief in some quarters of the state, that the governor cannot take vital decision in his government without due consultation and approval of his predecessor and mentor, Chief Godswill Akpabio who is now the Senate Minority Leader, by dissolving the whole state executive council of which greater percentage were Akpabio’s loyalists.

Following the sack of his cabinet, the governor took out time to shop for fresh men and women with high level of integrity who will key into his dreams for the state. The list of those found worthy the governor, was sent to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. After a tedious screening and confirmation by the People’s Assembly, the 20 nominees which 11 were fresh and 9 returning members were sworn in by the State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel.

Those sworn in as commissioners were Mr. Linus Nkan, Mr. Akan Okon, Mr Ephraim Inyang, Mr Orman Esin, Prof. Eno Ikpe, Mr Udo Ekpeyong and Dr Udoinyang. Others in this category were Arc.Ime Ekpo, Mr Paul Alexander Udofia, Mr Charles Udo, Barr.Uwemedimo Nwoko, Mr. Nse Udo Essien, Mr Victor Antai, Dr Dominic Ukpong, Mr. Monday Ebong Uko, Dr. Glory Edet and Dr.Iniobong Essien. Those in the Special Adviser category who were also sworn in by the governor were Barr. Ekong Sampson and Mrs. Ekemini David Umoh.

Governor Emmanuel while swearing in the new State Executives told them that in his administration, there is no room for excuses, but rather result. The governor also told the commissioners and SA that he (the governor) and the entire people of the state have high expectation on them in their respective ministries and establishments.

The governor maintained that these men were chosen based on merit, adding that competence, loyalty, transparency and pedigree are the values that set them up for consideration as members of the state executive council.

The commissioners and Special Advisers so sworn in, are all professionals with good years of experience in their chosen fields of endeavors no doubt, but politically in the state and the nation, do their names ring bell? To me, the implication of the high expectation the Governor said he and the people of the state  have on the new cabinet is not mainly on their respective supervisory role in the ministries and establishment, but on delivering the governor and the PDP comes 2019.

A chieftain of the People Democratic Party, who did not want his name in print, confided with this Paper, said that udom has made the greatest mistake of his life by sacking ‘those strong elements’ in the state Executive council who according to him, were the brains behind the emergence of him as the governor of the state and his subsequent victory at the election tribunal and courts. Now that these big names are no longer in the game, what is the fate of the party and the Governor? The chieftain asked.  

Another strong member of the party from Etinan local Government Area who said he will soon announced his exit from the PDP, told our reporter that there is no way the PDP can win the 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom state. He expressed disappointment over the new State Executive council  saying that, they would not be able to deliver PDP in the future elections. According to him, the PDP is losing their best hands every day.

 These should now serve as a challenge to the newly sworn members of the state cabinet. They should see their appointment as a call to work for the return of the governor comes 2019. They should now go back and mobilize the people in the grassroots for the governor, and also drum support for PDP in 2019. 

There is need for them to work in harmony and be loyal to the governor and by extension the PDP. There are set parameters which they must work accordingly in order to succeed and justify the confidence the governor and the people have in them.

The newly appointees must also serve with zeal and commitment in order to drive home the dream of the high performing governor, who seeks to move the state to an industrialization hub.

They should always have this in mind that to who much is given, much is also expected and he who is good at giving excuses is seldom good for nothing.